It's Not About Arriving

I can't believe that we are almost at the end of our year long leadership program for young adults within SCARF here in the Illawarra (Strategic Community Assistance for Refugee Families). What a ride it's been, and such a privilege to spend time with incredibly inspiring difference makers each month. We've had the opportunity to pull apart what leadership is, and then over the months develop transferable skills, attitudes and behaviours that will assist us all along our journeys. Saturday's session was definitely no different, but with an added bonus thrown in.

"Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flow charts. It is about one life influencing another." John C. Maxwell

We were delighted when we heard that Manal Younus (http://www.manalyounuspoetry.com) would be in Wollongong and joining us within our Let's L.E.A.D. session on Saturday. She was a special guest for SCARF's major fundraiser over the weekend (Art for Refugees) and graciously made time to join in on our learning and also share her gifts and talents as well. I love spoken word poetry, and Manal is so talented in it. Our whole group was transfixed as she shared a few of her pieces of work at the end of the session and then created a discussion that supported the learning and leadership journeys that we're all on.

"Spoken word poetry is the art of performance poetry. I tell people it involves creating poetry that doesn't just want to sit on paper, that something about it demands it be heard out loud or witnessed in person." - Sarah Kay

One line in particular from the first poem Manal shared really resonated deeply with me. I couldn't, and still can't, get it out of my head. It comes from the poem linked in the YouTube clip above from her first ever National Poetry Slam entry a few years ago. The line is '... and prefer to be in planes that are taking off than ones that are just landing'. It couldn't have come at a better time as I'm thinking about this idea of 'the end' of this year long leadership program. Leadership, and this process, is definitely not about arriving.

"Real leadership is less about seeking applause and rewards and more about doing the best work you've ever done and having an impact you've never imagined." - Robin Sharma

Each moment is a new opportunity to take off. Each moment is a new opportunity to learn. And most importantly, each moment is a new opportunity to contribute. We're not reaching 'the end' of our year long leadership program because that's not what leadership is about. I can't wait to continue being a support to, and being supported by, these incredible difference makers. As leaders do!